Newbigin Pioneering Hub

Pioneering is about releasing ordinary people to do the extraordinary things they dream about – enabling crazy, and not so crazy, ideas to take shape as part of the mission of the church.

The Newbigin Pioneering Hub is an initiative which offers:

• spare-time training in pioneer ministry for those starting out
• a community for pioneers within the �������� and beyond
• all led by people with deep lived experience of the ups and downs of starting new things in a wide variety of settings

Fresh Expressions��

Fresh Expressions of church are new types of church that tend to develop outside of church buildings

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The��United Reformed Church’s��engagement in adult learning is shaped by active ecumenical collaboration through relevant partnerships in England, Scotland and Wales.

The���������� has three designated Resource Centres for Learning for the whole church, known popularly as��Northern College, the Scottish College, and Westminster College who work together for discipleship development.�� You may read more here:��The work of RCLs (PDF | 203kb).

The teaching staff of the Resource Centres for Learning offer learning opportunities to a wide range of people. They work together with synod and Assembly colleagues to enable effective development and delivery of relevant resources for United Reformed Church congregations.

The three colleges are also responsible for Education for Ministry Phase 1 (pre-ordination or pre-commissioning training) and provide these through a variety of means, including residential study, local tutorials, supervised placements, and supported distance learning.

Access for all

Each Resource Centre for Learning offers learning opportunities for those who are not seeking academic accreditiation. It is possible to attend individual classes or whole courses. Please follow the links below to your chosen RCL where you can find the most up-to-date information about courses and registration.

The colleges

Northern College offers a range of full-time and part-time study options and would seek to tailor your course to suit individual learning needs and past experience as far as possible.

The Scottish College gathers people in communities of faith and freedom – to learn and to listen, to speak and to grow. Its programmes prepare individuals to be Ministers of Word and Sacrament, as well as for other forms of service in today’s church.

Westminster College is a Resource Centre for Learning of the United Reformed Church and a member of the Cambridge Theological Federation.

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Grants & funding opportunities

Find out about the grants and funding opportunities the �������� offers churches, community groups and individuals

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The United Reformed Church encourages an ethos of lifelong learning: growing in faith, following Jesus and finding out more about being a disciple. Everyone can learn, at their own level, speed and within their own capabilities. We aim to offer opportunities and signpost possibilities.

When looking to learn more about your faith you can begin with your local church or Synod as they can give you up to date and personal information. You can contact one of the Resource Centres for Learning. The �������� has three designated Resource Centres for Learning for the whole church, known popularly as Northern College, the Scottish College, and Westminster College who work together for discipleship development.

The teaching staff of the Resource Centres for Learning offer learning opportunities to a wide range of people. They work together with synod and Assembly colleagues to enable effective development and delivery of relevant resources for United Reformed Church congregations.��

• Stepwise
• Lay Preaching – training to become a Locally Recognised Worship Leader or Assembly Accredited Lay Preacher AND learning opportunities and funding for those already accredited;
• Elders training – Exploring Eldership is a six-module online training programme designed to help you learn more about the ministry of eldership, whatever point you are at on that journey. It’s openly available as a course within the �������� Learning Hub. To find out more click
• Training offered through our Resource Centres for Learning – targeted learning opportunities, lay preacher conferences, not-for-accreditation courses offered through the Resource Centres for Learning, alongside those training for ordained ministry.
• Presidency at the Sacraments

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Presidency at the sacraments is a training course for authorised elders and lay preachers. The course is provided through the synods who will make arrangements for the material to be delivered locally, or in ways appropriate to local situations.

Please contact your synod office or synod Training and Development Officer��for more details.

Learning outcomes

After participating in the training course, those authorised will feel more confident to preside at both Communion and baptisms, and will feel confident that they share best practice with others so authorised throughout the United Reformed Church.

Learning outputs

Authorised elders will understand:

• The nature of authorisation within Church order
• The nature of sacrament
• Sacraments and the Bible
• The purpose of the sacraments
• The theology of the sacraments
• Symbolism of the sacraments
• Liturgies for sacraments
• Practicalities of presidency

Course outline

The course follows a blended learning format and is designed to be flexible in its use. Face-to-face sessions (which might be a series of evenings or a single day session if that is more appropriate) are supplemented by the reading material that is available on this site. The course trainers are encouraged to cover all the elements of the training, while being flexible in how the face-to-face sessions are arranged.

The material below will be used as preparation for and during the face-to-face sessions.

They include the ��������’s:

• theological and historical understanding of the Sacraments (PDF | 487kb)
• guidance concerning Baptism and the Basis of Union (PDF | 488kb)
• material about children and communion (PDF | 920kb)
• a practical checklist for presiding��(PDF | 183kb).

Pre-course questions to consider

Before you begin your face-to-face training sessions to expand your practice of sacraments, it will be helpful to review your experiences so far.You may like to simply ask these questions of yourself and think of your answers, or you may like to write down your answers.

Communion

• When did I feel most alive when I participated in a Communion service? What single thing stood out for me?
• Are there words said or heard in a Communion service which remain in my heart or head? What are they? Why have they been important?

And, if you have already presided at Communion:

• Which experience of presiding at Communion stays happily in my memory and why?

Baptism

• What does my baptism mean to me?
• What service of baptism which I have witnessed stays in my mind as a deeply moving event? What happened? Why was it important?

And, if you have already presided at baptism:

• Which experience of carrying out a baptism stays happily in my memory and why?

Session material��

Face-to-face sessions will expand on the material available online, will draw in participant experience, and will introduce new material on the nature of authorisation, for both Communion and baptism. Sessions can be held either on one day, or spaced out as desired by the group and by the trainer.

After face-to-face reflection

Participants may like to keep a journal as they start thinking about and training to preside at Communion and baptisms. After the course has ended these journal entries could be used to reflect on presidency and it may be appropriate for a learning group to discuss these entries and reflections together.

If you need futher information about celebrating the Sacraments, please contact your Training or Development Officer.

Further resources

• Worship from the United Reformed Church (�������� Service Book 2003)
• Baptism in the United Reformed Church (PDF | 690kb)�� – The Manual, The Basis of Union Clause 14 (and schedule A)

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Stepwise is the discipleship development programme from the United Reformed Church. It is for everyone: all ages, shapes and sizes – including you!

If you are keen to reflect on, and develop your Christian faith, ready to be stimulated and challenged, and want to make a difference in your own life and the lives of others, then Stepwise is what you’re looking for.

Stepwise is shaped around your strengths and needs, in the context of your own community and church. It emphasises the importance of learning from your daily life – wherever you are and whoever God might be calling you to be.�� It is designed for people of all ages and backgrounds and aims to deepen your discipleship and help you to grow in faith as you walk the way of Jesus.

Two short films about Stepwise

The first film is a short video which includes a collection of stories from participants and churches about the difference Stepwise has made to their lives and communities.��This update was created for the ��������s General Assembly in July 2021.

The second short film features some of the people who’ve taken part in the programme.

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Contact the Stepwise team at the United Reformed Church to let us know you’re interested in the discipleship scheme.

The first step in your Stepwise journey is let us know that you’re interested.�� You can do this by emailing stepwise@urc.org.uk. Once you’ve emailed us the Stepwise team and your Synod will be in touch.

Arrangements for Stepwise vary in different parts of the country but we will contact you soon with further details.

There will be a small fee of between £5 – £30 on a “pay what you can” basis, payable via PayPal, as part of the formal registration process for each stream. We will send you details about how to pay this once you are ready to join a group.

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Stepwise works by combining different kinds of activities.

In order to complete any Stepwise stream you will do all of the following:

• be a member of a Stepwise group;
• follow guided material online via the �������� Learning Hub; as well as
• have meetings with a Stepwise mentor.

Faith-filled Life, the opening Stepwise stream, will take you about three months to complete. The other streams contain more material and may take up to 12 months each.

• Find out about all the Stepwise streams

Stepwise Groups – in-person or online

Sharing together and learning from each other is an important part of Stepwise. Everyone has important things to contribute – whatever their age, shape, size, stage. So for each stream you follow you will join a stepwise group and meet for shared tasks and discussion in a friendly and supportive environment.�� Stepwise groups can be either in-person groups or online groups using Zoom or another online service.

• Before each group meeting you will do some preparation, via the Learning Hub, to make sure that you get the most out of the group discussion session.
• During each group meeting you will be encouraged to share your experiences and develop your thoughts further.
• Groups will be led by an experienced facilitator skilled at drawing out the best from a diverse group and helping everyone gain confidence and understanding in return.

Arrangements for group meetings will vary depending on the Stepwise stream and the needs of each particular group. Most groups will meet fortnightly for a couple of hours each time.

The �������� Learning Hub

All the material and resources needed for Stepwise are contained within the����– the online home of Stepwise. You can access the Hub via any web browser (e.g. Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox etc.) using a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Before your group session you log-in to the Learning Hub and work through the material for that session. There will be some texts to read and think about, weblinks to follow, videos to watch and audio clips to listen to.

These activities will take about two hours to complete before each session and will make sure that you get the most out of that session. Everything is clearly arranged and instructions are given so that you will know exactly what to do, and when to do it.

As well as needing a way of getting online for session preparation you will also need a notepad and pen for making notes to take to the group session.

If you are worried about not having done this kind of programme before or about never having used this kind of technology – don’t be! There will be local support to help you take part. Stepwise IT buddies will be available to help you get started and guide you along the way.

If you have any additional learning needs please contact the Stepwise team to discuss how we can best help you.

Stepwise Mentors

As a Stepwise participant you’ll have a mentor alongside you on your Stepwise journey.�� Their role is to listen to you as you reflect upon your Stepwise experience and help you to explore where Stepwise is leading you.����Your mentor is there to support you as you reflect upon your learning and your discipleship development and help you to make connections with your life experience.

The question “how is God at work in what I am learning and doing?” is a major part of Stepwise and your mentor is there to guide you as you to think about this.����The mentor’s role is not a teaching one, but a supporting and enabling one.����Stepwise mentors are people who are trusted in their local community and church.�� You will be able to choose your own mentor and guidance is given to help you think about the qualities and gifts that a suitable person will have.

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